Buying guide for best Sony soundbars
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Sony is one of the pioneers of home electronics. Aside from its famous portable audio and gaming business, it’s known for high-performance TVs, sound systems and speakers, including home-theater soundbars. The best Sony soundbars provide clear, strong, immersive audio regardless of whether you own a Sony TV or not.
Soundbars are long, bar-shaped speaker units meant to lie horizontally beneath your TV. Flatscreen TVs are notorious for having poor speakers that don’t get loud or sound clear. A soundbar, even a basic one, will improve anyone’s basic TV audio.
Sony soundbars come in a variety of models. They can be as simple as a two-channel stereo bar or as premium as a full surround-sound solution in a box. They work with any brand of TV or sound system, but have extra features when paired with a Sony Bravia television or a Sony PlayStation console. Our top pick is the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9, which can bring cinema-like audio right into your home.
Editors’ picks
Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9
Editors’ Favorite
Channels: 5.0.2 | Drivers: 13 | Surround: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Inputs: HDMI, LAN | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi
At the top of the line when it comes to true Sony soundbars is the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9. This high-end soundbar packs more than a dozen individual drivers in a slim bar shape, allowing it to create an immersive soundscape with Sony’s sonic engineering.
It boasts 13 distinct drivers, generally arranged in a 5.0.2-channel configuration, with pairs of drivers doubling up on individual channels as necessary. Rectangular drivers maximize diaphragm area and move more air without additional excursion, while tiny circular tweeters add high frequency detail. Side-firing and up-firing drivers bounce sound off the walls and ceiling, helping create phantom speakers via auto-calibration in surround-sound mode. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The Theater Bar 9 has both HDMI input and output, as well as a LAN port and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for wireless connections, including Spotify Connect and Apple AirPlay 2. When paired with a Bravia TV, it can use the TV’s speakers as an additional center channel. It easily pairs with Sony wireless satellite speakers and subwoofers for physical surround sound.
Sony HT-S2000 Compact 3.1 Ch Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Great Value
Channels: 3.1 | Drivers: 5 | Surround: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Inputs: HDMI, optical, USB | Wireless: Bluetooth 5.2
A more traditional and full-featured soundbar option is the mid-priced Sony HT-S2000. This compact soundbar provides virtual surround sound and improved audio with a flexible array of connections and subwoofer effects.
The Sony HT-S2000 is a 3.1-channel speaker with five individual drivers in a bar that’s 31 inches long and 5 inches thick. Five rectangular drivers maximize diaphragm size and air movement, while acoustic channels help create subwoofer performance in the bar itself.
The five-driver arrangement can create height-sensitive sound effects with Sony’s Vertical Sound Engine, giving you Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround from just a single physical bar. You can also switch between virtual surround or standard stereo presentation with the Sound Field button on the included remote control.
The HT-S2000 has HDMI, optical and USB inputs. It can stream music over Bluetooth 5.2 and connect to wireless Sony accessory speakers for physical surround sound. Pairing with a Sony Bravia TV also lets you control the HT-S2000 from the TV’s remote control and menus.
Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar
Best Under $200
Channels: 2 | Drivers: 2 | Surround: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Inputs: HDMI, optical, USB | Wireless: Bluetooth 4.2
An excellent basic soundbar at an approachable price, the Sony S100 tweeter soundbar won’t wow you with a dozen drivers or high-end effects. But it provides a definite upgrade over standard TV speakers and can create virtual surround-sound effects as well.
The Sony S100 is a two-channel soundbar with two discrete drivers as well as a front-firing bass reflex port for enhanced low-end performance. A bass port isn’t a driver but is a structure that passively boosts the sound waves from behind the drivers, creating more bass presence. The S100 uses Sony’s S-Force PRO Front Surround feature to create immersive audio based on Dolby Atmos or DTS:X from just a 2.0-channel system.
The S100 offers HDMI, optical and USB connections. It also can stream music over Bluetooth 4.2. When connected to a Bravia TV, it supports Bravia Sync and HDMI CEC to power on and off with the TV. It measures just over 35 inches long and only 3.5 inches wide, making it well-suited for TVs of 50 inches or smaller.
Key features to consider
Drivers
Drivers are the parts of a speaker that produce sound. Sony soundbars can have anywhere from two to 10 drivers or more. The more drivers, the louder and more varied the sounds a soundbar can produce.
Driver size
Drivers vary in size and design to produce specific frequencies of sound.
- Tweeters produce midtones and high tones.
- Woofers produce lower midtones and bass.
- Subwoofers create vibrations that go down into what can be felt more than heard.
Smaller drivers produce less air movement, while bigger drivers produce more. Soundbars, including Sony soundbars, have smaller drivers than those of floorstanding speakers to fit their long slim shape.
Driver positioning
On a soundbar, driver positioning can be vital to creating immersive sound effects. Upward-firing drivers are angled to bounce sound off the ceiling to create the impression of height or overhead sound. Side-firing drivers can bounce sound off walls to create surround-sound effects, while front-firing drivers aim sound directly toward the listener.
Channels
Channels refer to the number of sound paths in a given piece of audio. Mono sound has a single channel, while stereo sound has two, left and right. The number of channels is designated by a number such as 2.0, 5.1 or 7.1.2. In a Sony soundbar, a channel is typically assigned to a single driver or to a subset of drivers in larger units.
Interface
Sony soundbars can connect to TVs, audio receivers and other home entertainment equipment in several ways.
- HDMI ARC and eARC: The most common interface, HDMI carries audio and video signals plus other information over a single cable. Sony soundbars with HDMI interfaces plug into an HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) or eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) port on a TV or other device. This allows for extra control and features unique to the soundbar.
- Optical: A high-quality connection found on higher-end equipment that uses light to carry audio information.
- USB: The familiar USB-A port for USB audio or direct connection to a USB drive.
- RCA: A fundamental and decades-old stereo connection with color-coded plugs and sockets (red for right channel, white for left channel). It’s still found on a wide variety of audiovisual equipment, including legacy Sony equipment.
- Wireless: Sony soundbars support streaming audio over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Some Sony soundbars also support wireless connections to additional speakers for a cable-free surround-sound setup.
Surround sound
Surround sound is a method of audio engineering that simulates being in the middle of a soundscape. It’s ideal for home-theater setups and watching movies or TV shows, as well as cinematic games.
True surround sound is achieved with a surround-sound system composed of several speakers, often including a soundbar. But many Sony soundbars can create the illusion of surround sound.
- S-Force PRO Front Surround: A Sony technology that virtually simulates side-directed sound with as little as a stereo pair of front-facing drivers.
- 360 Spatial Sound Mapping: An updated virtual surround-sound system used by Sony soundbars to create “phantom speakers” around the listener with only the drivers on the soundbar unit.
- Surround upmixing: Certain Sony soundbars can process stereo audio to create a virtual surround-sound mix.
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X: These surround-sound formats are supported by midtier and high-end Sony soundbars. Both are object-based sound formats that provide the illusion of depth, height and movement, like a plane taking off and flying overhead.
BRAVIA ecosystem
Sony’s BRAVIA line encompasses its high-definition flatscreen TVs and associated accessories. Pairing a Sony soundbar with a BRAVIA TV provides features unavailable to non-BRAVIA models.
- Acoustic Center Sync: A feature that allows compatible BRAVIA TVs to act as the center channel for a Sony soundbar, adding drivers and enhancing sound while synchronizing audio.
- Voice Zoom 3: An AI-based feature that singles out human voices and enhances them for clearer dialogue in TV and films.
- Controls and BRAVIA Connect: Sony soundbars connected to BRAVIA TVs can be controlled by the TV’s remote control. They can also be controlled through the BRAVIA Connect smartphone app.
Sony soundbars, especially those with BRAVIA branding, are also physically designed to match BRAVIA TVs, creating a unified aesthetic and simplifying setup.
PlayStation features
Sony’s PlayStation gaming platform is possibly its most famous brand since the original Walkman portable cassette player. Sony soundbars are designed to work well with PlayStation consoles and Sony TVs. The PlayStation plugs into the Sony TV, while the Sony TV plugs into the Sony soundbar.
- Overhead sound: Games mixed with Dolby Atmos, or with PS5’s Tempest 3D audio, can be reproduced as surround sound with Sony soundbars, including the illusion of overhead sound effects.
- HDMI CEC: Sony soundbars connected via HDMI eARC can be turned on and off automatically with PlayStation consoles or BRAVIA TVs.
Pricing
Price varies based on the number of channels and features. In general, you can expect to pay between $130 and $1,500.
Inexpensive: Soundbars with 2 to 2.1 channels and no subwoofer or a built-in subwoofer usually cost $100 to $200.
Mid-range: Soundbars with 2.1 to 5.1 channels and a separate subwoofer or speaker usually cost $200 to $800.
Expensive: Soundbars with 5.1 to 7.1 channels and a separate wireless subwoofer or speakers usually cost $800 to $1,500.
FAQ
Q. Can I use a Sony soundbar with Samsung or LG TVs?
A. Yes, you can use a Sony soundbar with any brand of TV, including Samsung and LG TVs, as long as they connect over one of the standard interfaces like HDMI. Some features, however, such as Acoustic Center Sync, are proprietary to Sony, and won’t work with non-Sony TVs. But Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround sound should work fine.
Q. Do I need a subwoofer with a soundbar?
A. No, you don’t strictly need a subwoofer with a soundbar. Some soundbars, including some models of Sony soundbars, have subwoofers — drivers that specialize in the LFE (low-frequency effects) channel — built in. But if you like the feeling of a powerful subwoofer, shaking your chair and penetrating your walls, you should get a separate subwoofer.
Q. Can I connect additional wireless speakers?
A. Yes, many Sony soundbars are designed to work with additional Sony home audio speakers. Additional speakers include subwoofers, side speakers, rear speakers and even overhead speakers. Sony wireless speakers in the SA- line are compatible with midtier and high-end Sony soundbars and don’t need cable connections, keeping your setup neat.
How we analyzed
We chose our picks based on research and experience regarding soundbars and surround-sound systems, including experience testing soundbars in the BestReviews Testing Lab. We looked for factors such as number of channels, number of drivers, surround-sound support and connection types, as well as taking into account physical size and price. We also took into account third-party reviews and customer feedback on various retailers.
About the author
Jmar Gambol is a writer for BestReviews. He has written more than a hundred articles on a variety of subjects, from home electronics to laptops to kitchen gadgets and luggage. He has direct experience using and testing soundbars and surround-sound systems, which he leaned on to write this article.
